This substantially revised edition includes recently published information relating to plate tectonics and continental origin. A large number of new figures have been added, and new sections included on meteorites, seismic tomography, mantle convection, accretionary terranes, mantle sources and evolution, continental growth, secular changes in Earth history, also a new chapter on exogenic Earth systems. In addition the following topics have been substantially revised: lunar origin, global gravity, origin of the core, metamorphism, plate boundaries, hotspots, tectonic settings, and magma associations. Among the new features the Tectonic Map of the World has also been updated.

As a final product of the International Geological Correlation Program (IGCP) Project 217, this volume brings together significant advances in the understanding of Proterozoic crustal evolution. This IGCP Project focussed on nine research objectives: 1) Comparison of Archean and Proterozoic supracrustal assemblages to more fully understand differences between Archean and post-Archean tectonic regimes; 2) To more fully understand the geochemical differences between Archean and post-Archean sediments and to evaluate the various factors that control sediment composition; 3) From combined U/Pb zircon and whole-rock Sm/Nd studies, to see if the apparent 2.4-2.0 continental crust "generation gap" is real; 4) To employ new techniques in the dating of individual zircons to more fully understand Proterozoic tectonic history and the role of crustal reworking; 5) From trace element ratios and Nd isotopic data from basalts, to better understand Proterozoic mantle evolution; 6) To encourage more detailed studies of the anorogenic granite-anorthosite association to better understand its origin and significance in terms of crustal evolution; 7) From combined Nd, Pb, and Sr isotopic data, to more precisely estimate the amount of new continental crust formed during the Proterozoic; 8) To encourage joint P-T and geochronological studies of Proterozoic and high-grade terranes to better understand Proterozoic orogenesis: and 9) To try and understand why hydrothermal precious metal deposits are relatively rare in the Proterozoic compared to both the Archean and the Phanerozoic. The book should be of interest to professionals in the geosciences (especially geochemists, petrologists and structural geologists) and graduate students in the same fields.

This comprehensive text has established itself over the past 20 years as the definitive work in its fields, presenting a thorough coverage of this key area of structural geology in a way which is ideally suited to advanced undergraduate and masters courses. The thorough coverage means that it is also useful to a wider readership as an up to date survey of plate tectonics. The fourth edition brings the text fully up to date, with coverage of the latest research in crustal evolution, supercontinents, mass extinctions. A new chapter covers the feedbacks of various Earth systems. In addition, a new appendix provides a valuable survey of current methodology.

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Petrology and Geochemistry of Granulites, Clermont-Ferrand, France, September 5-9, 1988

The integration of Tectonics/Geochemistry, up-to-date reviews by leading scientists as well as a broad topical coverage of the Archean, are some of the features of this particular volume. As geochronology has progressed in the last 20 years, the Archean has continued to attract interest. Advancements in the understanding of Archean crustal and mantle evolution have progressed rapidly since the first International Archean Symposium in Western Australia (1970). The landmark for the Archean was the NATO Advanced Study Institute at Leicester (1975). At this meeting the Archean truly "came of age". Investigators from many different disciplines focused their expertise on the early history of the earth. For the first time, the nature of the atmosphere, oceans, and life during the Archean was an important part of an Archean symposium. During the most recent Archean Symposium in Perth in 1990, there was a shift in interest from field and trace element data to the new rapidly evolving high-precision U/Pb geochronology of Archean rocks and to detailed structural studies of both low and high grade Archean terrains. The terrane concept so widely applied to the Phanerozoic was proposed for the Archean Yilgarn Province in Western Australia and is now widely accepted for the Archean (as evident by the articles in this book). Plate tectonics is now widely accepted as the principal process that controls the history of continents and oceans. There are, though, well substantiated differences between Archean and post-Archean rocks that indicate that Archean tectonic regimes must have differed in some respects from modern ones. The question of how and to what degree did Archean plate tectonics differ from modern plate tectonics is treated in many of the chapters of this book. Altogether, the editor has presented a selection of articles that provide a fascinating insight into the latest observations in this field.

Fundamentals of the Physical Environment has established itself as a well-respected core introductory book for students of physical geography and the environmental sciences. Taking a systems approach, it demonstrates how the various factors operating at Earth’s surface can and do interact, and how landscape can be used to decipher them. The nature of the earth, its atmosphere and its oceans, the main processes of geomorphology and key elements of ecosystems are also all explained. The final section on specific environments usefully sets in context the physical processes and human impacts. This fourth edition has been extensively revised to incorporate current thinking and knowledge and includes: a new section on the history and study of physical geography an updated and strengthened chapter on climate change (9) and a strengthened section on the work of the wind a revised chapter (15) on crysosphere systems - glaciers, ice and permafrost a new chapter (23) on the principles of environmental reconstruction a new joint chapter (24) on polar and alpine environments a key new joint chapter (28) on current environmental change and future environments new material on the Earth System and cycling of carbon and nutrients themed boxes highlighting processes, systems, applications, new developments and human impacts a support website at www.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415395168 with discussion and essay questions, chapter summaries and extended case studies. Clearly written, well-structured and with over 450 informative colour diagrams and 150 colour photographs, this text provides students with the necessary grounding in fundamental processes whilst linking these to their impact on human society and their application to the science of the environment.

Economic Mineralization - the volume sets out to present various aspects of a very broad details of a narrow field of economic mineralization at a time when the competitively growing global economy and the pressing needs of the society are compelling economic geology to grow and pile of data is accumulating and opinions changing very rapidly. The volume incorporates papers, a resultant of information explosion and electrifying conceptual revolution in economic geology, describing the new and exciting results and timely reviews integrating and immense amount of knowledge in the field of geology, exploration, mining, environment, economics, geophysics and geochemistry that has bearing on economic mineralization. The book imbibes sections on crustal evolution and economic mineralization, economic mineralization of igneous application, economic mineralization of sedimentary affiliation, prospecting and exploration and mining, economics and environments. In all the five sections current concepts, problems and probable trends of future research are highlighted. This book will be an invaluable everlasting reference for both industry and academia specializing in economic mineralization and for those who need updated information and current research in the field. It will be equally useful for advance level geology and mining students and research scholars throughout the world.

"Inspired by a GSA Penrose Conference held in Lander, Wyoming, June 14-18, 2006, this volume discusses the beginning and evolution of plate tectonics on Earth, and gives readers an introduction to some of the uncertainties and controversies related to the evolution of the planet. In the first three sections of the book, which cover isotopic, geochemical, metamorphic, mineralization, and mantle geodynamic constraints, a variety of papers address the question of when "modern-style" plate tectonics began on planet Earth. The next set of papers focuses on the geodynamic or geophysical constraints for the beginning of plate tectonics. The volume's final section synthesizes a broad range of evidence, from planetary analogues and geodynamic modeling, to Earth's preserved geologic record. This work provides an excellent graduate level text summarizing the current state of knowledge and will be of interest to a wide range of earth and planetary scientists."--Publisher's website.